Flinders University is committed to solving the wicked problems of our time. That is why transdisciplinary research isn’t just encouraged, it is a Flinders priority. Whether it’s enhancing youth participation in sport or exploring how to improve the lives of people with disabilities, real-world change happens when researchers from different disciplines work together. Cross-college HDR (Higher Degree by Research) supervision is a clear example of how collaboration drives innovation, impact, and inclusion.

What Is Cross-College Supervision and Why Does It Matter?

Cross-college HDR supervision involves research students being supported by supervisors from more than one College, bringing together a wide range of expertise, perspectives, and networks. It’s a model that’s integrative, holistic, and focused on solving real-world problems, exactly what transdisciplinary research aims to do.

In June 2024, a Working Group was formed from members of the University HDR Committee (UHDRC) to undertake a project on cross-College HDR supervision. The Working Group aimed to identify the facilitators and barriers to cross-College supervision, propose solutions to mitigate, and ensure that university principles, policies, and procedures can support cross-College collaboration for HDR.

Lucy Lewis, Deputy Dean of Graduate Research and the Chair of the working group says, “there are many benefits to transdisciplinary and/or cross-college HDR supervision, including: gaining access to a wider range of research knowledge, skills, and experience; exposure to broader networks internal and external to the university; building collaborations; and increased diversity of perspectives.”

This approach aligns with key actions in Flinders’ Research Support Plan 2023–2025.

The Numbers Speak for Themselves

As of March 2025, there are 161 HDR students at Flinders with cross-college supervisory teams. The highest number of these students have their Principal Supervisors located in the Colleges of Nursing and Health Sciences (NHS), Medicine and Public Health (MPH), and Education, Psychology and Social Work (EPSW). (Figure 1)

The distribution of cross-College HDR supervision is shown in Figure 2. The proportion of Principal and Associate supervisors across these teams are relatively even across Colleges.

Cross-college partnerships are active across all Colleges, a strong sign of Flinders’ commitment to collaboration.

Case Study 1: Collaborating for Change in Youth Sport and ADHD

James Kay, a PhD candidate in CEPSW, is investigating ways to improve youth sport participation, particularly for adolescent girls. His work is deeply aligned with government priorities and supported by a cross-college and industry team:

• Sam Elliott (CEPSW)
• Jasmine Petersen (CNHS)
• Michelle Crisp (Office for Recreation, Sport & Racing)

This supervision model led to a set of female adolescent sport re-engagement guidelines, strengthened by Jasmine’s expertise in review methods and Sam’s contribution to policy alignment.

James’ work has already influenced both policy and practice, and his Enterprise Industry Scholarship offered hands-on experience tackling real-world challenges.

Madison Richter, a CNHS candidate, is developing a serious game to enhance executive function in adolescents with ADHD. Her work is supervised by:

• Martin Immink (CNHS)
• Sam Elliott (CEPSW)

Together, their supervision bridges health, cognitive science, and human-centred design to create innovative digital interventions.

“At Flinders University, research thrives when experts from different disciplines come together. Cross-college HDR supervision is a shining example of how collaboration supports students to deliver research with real impact,” says Sam Elliott.

Case Study 2: Inclusion, Disability, and Social Change

Led by Professor Sally Robinson, Flinders HDR students are producing transformative work in disability and community inclusion, supported by teams spanning CNHS, EPSW, BGL, and international institutions.

Examples include:

• Natalie Parmenter (CNHS): Explored safety in supported accommodation for people with intellectual disability.
• Donna Hedstrom (BGL): Studied friendship experiences of young people with disability using multimodal communication.
• Su Su Tun (CNHS): Investigated how culturally diverse people with disability experience harm.
• Jessica Young (CNHS): Focused on epistemic injustice in dementia.

“When tackling big social challenges, no single discipline has all the answers,” says Professor Sally Robinson on the importance of this type of collaboration.

These students benefited from cotutelle arrangements, Enterprise Scholarships, ARC-funded projects, and strong external collaborations, showcasing the strength of Flinders’ research network.

Key Benefits of Cross-College Supervision

For Students

• Broader access to disciplinary expertise, methodologies, and research perspectives.
• Stronger connections with industry, government, and community partners.
• A richer, more holistic research experience with real-world relevance.

For Supervisors

• Interdisciplinary relationships that strengthen research outputs.
• Opportunities for joint publications, grant development, and policy influence.
• A platform for exploring innovative solutions to complex problems.

For Flinders University

• Demonstrates leadership in transdisciplinary research.
• Enhances HDR completion rates, research impact, and community engagement.
• Aligns with the University’s strategic plan to foster collaboration and innovation.

What’s Being Done to Support It?

The Cross-College HDR Working Group has made 14 recommendations, many of which are already being implemented. These include:

• Promoting success stories like those above
• Adding supervision prompts to admission forms
• Improving metrics and recognition for cross-college supervision
• Updating supervisor search tools and graduation booklets
• Investigating awards and digital resources to increase visibility

One University, Many Disciplines, Shared Impact

Flinders is committed to research that makes a difference, solving the wicked problems of our time, and cross-college HDR supervision is a powerful tool in that mission. By breaking down silos and encouraging shared expertise, we enable students and staff to tackle society’s most pressing challenges from every angle.

The partnership between Colleges like BGL, NHS, and EPSW shows that when people work together, research becomes more powerful, more inclusive, and more capable of changing lives.

If you are curious about how HDR cross-college supervision research at Flinders can help you contribute to positive change, head to flinders.edu.au/hdr or email us at gradresearch@flinders.edu.au.